The endoscopy unit at Benenden Hospital has been awarded a Joint Advisory Group accreditation for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy by the Royal College of Physicians.
The accreditation is awarded to endoscopy units that are able to meet a stringent set of standards relating to high quality patient care demonstrating a safe, patient-centred and efficient service.
The JAG accreditation assures patients that the units are committed to high quality standards in their clinical practice and measure up to exacting national professional standards in safety, staffing, governance, policies and environment.
Dr Laurence Maiden, Clinical Lead for Gastroenterology at Benenden Hospital, said: “We’re really delighted to have been awarded this accreditation.
“The whole team has worked incredibly hard to achieve this and they take great pride in providing excellent patient care.
Director of Patient Services Claire Harley added: “This accreditation shows the quality, safety and outstanding service that we provide out patients on a daily basis.”
Benenden Hospital has been working on its JAG accreditation for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for two years and was assessed by a Lead Consultant Gastroenterologist, a Nurse Endoscopist and a lay assessor in December.
In their report, they said: “The purpose-built Ambulatory Care Unit provides a state-of-the-art facility with modern surroundings and the latest technology including a well-executed decontamination service with organised and efficient processes.
“The patient privacy and dignity is protected at all stages of the patient journey and has been clearly demonstrated during the assessment.”
Endoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to view the inside of a person's body and was originally used only in the esophagus, stomach, and colon.
Now doctors can use endoscopy to diagnose diseases of the entire gastrointestinal tract as well as ear, nose, throat, lungs, urinary tract and womb.
Published on 08 February 2019